100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 557 - Construction

A clear morning marked the commencement of production for the main branch situated in the Middle Continent.

With successive activations of teleportation arrays, streams of workers arrived in meticulously organized rotations.

Millions upon millions descended.

They arrived in scheduled waves, each contingent entering designated transit lanes before proceeding to assigned sectors with a discipline that even compelled the observing Liberators to pause and watch.

Lilith spearheaded the construction division as it arrived.

Anvil-Horn was by her side, bearing a hammer of such immense proportions that many young workers cast it glances, as if fearing it might spontaneously transform into a building if he were to let it fall.

Seran had personally selected the location.

This new territory occupied a space between the Liberator Main Headquarters and the Celestial Dominion, positioned on a broad expanse where multiple natural pathways converged.

The land designated was larger than the primary Lootwell territory.

It was not yet fully developed.

Not at this moment.

However, its potential was undeniably vast.

Lucien stood atop a commanding ridge alongside Seran, Lilith, Virel, Aniel, Eirene, Anvil-Horn, and several principal planners.

Below them, marker lights were distributed across the landscape in grand geometric patterns.

Gazing over the marked territory, Seran offered a smile.

"The Middle Continent operates differently from the West. Here, sheer scale is what commands initial admiration."

"Precisely why we shall construct on a scale so grand they cannot possibly ignore it," Lilith responded.

•••

The Middle Continent branch was envisioned to be distinct from the primary territory.

The main Lootwell territory served as the hidden core, the genesis point where Lucien’s systems first blossomed into civilization—a place sacred in its peculiar fashion.

This new territory was designated for a different objective.

It was to function as a nexus point.

A conduit connecting various powers.

Within this domain, Lootwell would forge collaborations with the Liberators.

And not solely the Liberators.

Virel and Aniel expressed a desire for the Celestial Dominion to also be integrated into this endeavor.

...

Seran championed the establishment of an academy.

A truly colossal institution.

When Lucien inquired about the reasoning, Seran's explanation was as straightforward as it was somber.

"The future is poised to become significantly more perilous."

Lucien regarded him intently.

Seran continued, "The Liberators have historically relied on selective recruitment. That strategy will not suffice indefinitely. I require a greater number of combatants. More intelligent combatants. Loyal combatants. And most critically, individuals who comprehend the 'why' behind their struggle before being handed a weapon and lauded as valiant."

Lucien granted his approval without hesitation.

Seran termed it practical education.

Lucien, however, perceived it as a terrifyingly overdue measure.

...

The Celestials proposed the creation of a clinic.

Yet, characterizing it as merely a clinic felt like a disservice to its intended scale.

Virel and Aniel envisioned a comprehensive healing complex, substantial enough to attend to travelers, inhabitants, practitioners, refugees, and the wounded forces from across the entire continent. It was to be a sanctuary where Celestial healing arts, Lootwell's medical practices, Seraphine’s established medical frameworks, and divine energy treatments could converge and flourish together.

Aniel articulated this vision with gentle sincerity.

"A world cannot thrive solely on the sharpening of blades."

Virel concurred with a nod.

"When cataclysm strikes, it is the healers who determine how many warriors can once again rise to fight."

Lucien found this sentiment resonate deeply.

...

Clara, naturally, was unwilling to be sidelined from this grand undertaking.

Her initiative was the construction of a chapel.

Not just any chapel, but the most expansive one Lootwell had ever constructed.

No.

It was to be the central chapel of the entire Middle Continent branch.

Upon Clara's presentation of the plans, Lucien studied the scaled blueprints for several moments before slowly turning his gaze toward her.

"You refer to this as a chapel?"

Clara responded with a smile of apparent innocence.

"It is a place for worship, guidance, the undertaking of quests, purification rituals, the circulation of divine energy, the swearing of oaths, the reception of refugees, moral rectification, ceremonial gatherings, and the organized distribution of spiritual labor."

Lucien remained staring at her.

"So, it is more than simply a chapel."

"It is a chapel endowed with proper ambition, my lord."

Aniel emitted a soft chuckle upon hearing this description.

Virel appeared visibly impressed.

Lucien, who in the past had felt a degree of discomfort regarding matters of worship, now experienced only mild embarrassment.

The reality of the situation was quite straightforward.

The act of worship indeed provided benefit.

Divine energy flowed towards him, propelled by faith, gratitude, reverence, and the meticulously constructed systems Clara had implemented with unsettling proficiency. This influx of energy expanded his Divine Energy Core, fortified his reserves, and nourished the nascent Tree of Creation. Furthermore, he had recently observed an additional effect.

His Evolving Constitution showed signs of response.

Albeit subtly.

Yet, undeniably.

Whenever a significant volume of divine energy infused his core, his very being would resonate with a hum that felt more profound than ordinary physical refinement. His flesh, his vessels, his bones, the laws governing him, and his internal world seemed to acknowledge this energy not merely as sustenance, but as a form of guidance.

The divine energy generated through worship was enhancing the constitution itself.

Or perhaps, it was accelerating an inherent, latent evolution concealed within.

Lucien remained uncertain about the duration this transformation would require.

However, one aspect was unequivocally clear.

He was determined to acquire every possible advantage.

The vastness of the universe, with its myriad of impossible phenomena lurking in its shadowed corners, was far too daunting to allow personal social discomfort to deter him from embracing power.

So when Clara requested the grandest chapel, Lucien granted it.

He then issued a single admonition.

"Ensure I do not appear overly divine."

Clara placed a hand upon her chest.

"My Lord, I would never irresponsibly inflate your holiness."

Lucien regarded her.

Clara offered a smile.

He then turned his attention to Vivian.

Vivian averted her gaze.

His eyes moved to Eirene.

Eirene made no pretense of assisting him.

Lucien let out a sigh.

"Very well. Responsibly, then."

Clara's eyes lit up with eagerness.

That, Lucien mused, was likely an error in judgment.

• • •

Eirene and the Lunarians would also be staying for an extended period.

The newly established territory's barrier would undoubtedly be extraordinary.

The West had compelled outsiders to acknowledge Lootwell's might; the Middle would now ascertain if that deference extended so far.

Consequently, Eirene had assembled Lunarian architects, formidable barrier masters, specialists in memory clauses, and adept shield-weavers. Their collective efforts would meld Lunarian barrier geometry, Lootwell's territorial methodologies, Anvil-Horn's robust structural reinforcement, Lilith's innovative Genesis Forging, and the consecrated warding practices of the Celestials.

The resultant barrier would not be a mere replica of Lootwell's primary one.

It would be a distinct creation.

Designed to welcome the public, yet capable of snapping shut like a divine maw when necessary.

Lucien had already reviewed the preliminary schematics.

He had studied them intently, prompting a subtle smile from Eirene.

"Do you disapprove?" she inquired.

"No," Lucien responded. "I am contemplating whether this structure is a defensive barrier or a political discourse manifested in light."

"It can embody both," she affirmed.

"That, precisely, is what causes me concern."

Eirene became increasingly occupied once more, yet she also dedicated more time to her practice than previously.

Lucien observed this shift.

She made more frequent visits to the moon. Her days were a careful division between administrative duties, barrier planning, meditation, and the reconnaissance of resource locations previously identified or claimed by the Eternal of Stillness across various continents.

Lucien readily granted her flexible working hours without hesitation.

Upon hearing his words, she paused, looking at him for a moment.

"Are you quite sure?"

"Indeed," he confirmed.

"There will be numerous decisions to make as the Middle branch undergoes development."

"And I have full confidence in your judgment to determine which matters require my direct involvement and which do not."

Eirene's expression softened considerably.

"You say that with such ease."

"No, it is something I have learned to say," he corrected gently.

This statement rendered her silent.

For several long breaths, she appeared on the verge of speaking.

Lucien noted her reticence.

He had been aware of it for some time.

There was an unspoken weight Eirene carried beneath her composure. Something she was still internally processing before articulating it into words.

Lucien made no attempt to inquire.

If she wished to share it with him, she would eventually do so.

And when that moment arrived, he would be ready to listen.

Until then, he would refrain from forcing open a door she was still gathering the courage to unlock herself.

• • •

Construction commenced.

And the Middle Continent began to witness the spectacle of Lootwell building in collaboration with its allies.

Lilith initiated the process.

Genesis Forging cascaded across the terrain in shimmering golden effusions as she meticulously marked foundations, aligned thoroughfares, erected initial structures, and forged temporary frameworks for the future districts.

Anvil-Horn followed in her wake, applying his expertise with weighty precision.

Where Lilith breathed life into structures, Anvil-Horn ensured their resilience against the harsh realities of existence.

He reinforced critical load-bearing conduits, rectified harmonic imbalances, integrated frames designed to diffuse impacts, and vociferously admonished any who mistook speed for carelessness in their work.

The Liberators contributed their own contingent of builders.

Their presence was more subdued compared to Lootwell's personnel.

Many among them bore the deep-seated caution of individuals who had spent extensive periods in perilous environments, making them inherently less relaxed when engaged in the construction of something of significance.

Seran's academy zone began to take shape on the western expanse of the territory.

Even in its nascent stages, it bore no resemblance to a conventional academy.

Expansive training grounds spanned diverse geographical areas. Simulated ruined cityscapes. Forested pursuit courses. Chambers simulating void pressure. Arenas for tactical engagement. Classrooms focused on formations. Designated recovery zones. Wards to prevent corruption. Enclosed platforms for combat duels.

... (Page Break)

The Celestials commenced the construction of their healing complex adjacent to the river.

Their workers meticulously assembled structures from pristine white stone, living crystal, luminescent columns, and airy garden pavilions. The entire facility was conceptualized not solely for treatment, but for holistic recovery, incorporating tranquil courtyards, pools for purification, terraces bathed in light, chambers for breathing divine energy, gardens dedicated to medicinal herbs, halls for the training of healers, and emergency wards equipped for mass casualty events.

Aniel personally oversaw the finer, more delicate aspects of the construction.

Virel, conversely, took charge of the defensive installations.

... (Page Break)

Following this, Clara's chapel began to rise.

It was situated in the central district.

The very core of the new territory.

This placement was not due to an elevated importance of worship above healing, combat, commerce, or communication.

Rather, it was because Clara's chapel had evolved beyond mere devotional purposes.

It had transformed into a vibrant social nexus.

A central hub from which quests could be disseminated, refugees could find sanctuary, citizens could undergo assessments, divine energy could be gathered, sacred vows could be witnessed, individuals seeking redemption could be guided, workers could be assigned tasks, information could be broadly distributed, and public virtue could be given tangible architectural form.

The chapel's central spire ascended gradually at first, then with increasing speed as Lilith's construction crews collaborated with Celestial light-workers and seasoned Lootwell artisans.

Lucien observed the scene from afar.

It was a breathtaking sight.

Such beauty, however, agitated him.

Lovely things tend to stir people's emotions, and susceptible individuals are more easily swayed by Clara's influence.

Clara drew near him, her footsteps silent.

"You seem troubled, my lord," she remarked.

"I ponder the number of souls you aim to convert," he replied.

A smile graced her lips.

"All those who genuinely desire self-improvement," she stated.

"That response is remarkably difficult to refute," Lucien conceded.

"I have been practicing," Clara replied.

"Indeed, I am aware," he acknowledged.

She offered a slight bow and resumed her task.

Lucien watched her depart.

Then, he murmured under his breath, "Truly a terrifying woman."

Vivian, positioned at his side, spoke up, "She heard your words."

"I am aware of that," Lucien responded.

"She smiled," Vivian added.

"Yes, I know," Lucien confirmed.